DRIVERS using banned drugs could be facing roadside police tests before the end of this year.

DRIVERS using banned drugs could be facing roadside police tests before the end of this year.

Under measures expected to become law today, police will be given powers to stop and assess motorists thought to be under the influence of illicit drugs.

Using hi-tech equipment, officers will check for substances such as cannabis, cocaine and heroin in minutes.

Yesterday, one of the UK's top officers said pilot schemes could be in place within months. At present, it is not an offence for motorists to refuse to give a sample for a drugs test, unlike alcohol.

Officers have no powers to force anyone to take such tests outside a police station. Both loopholes could be closed under the Railways and Transport Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent today.

Under the new law, police could force motorists to carry out "field impairment tests". Drivers would have to do routine tasks such as touching their head, or undergo on-the-spot saliva tests.

Manufacturers said the &#xA3;2,000 testing kit could be used at the roadside once it had Home Office approval.

A spokeswoman for Cozart Bioscience Limited said the technology was already in use by around 2,000 police officers in custody suites across England and Wales.

Within three to 12 minutes, the machine can give officers a positive or negative result on several different drug groups.

If the tests read positive, motorists would be taken to a police station for more accurate blood tests and could be charged with driving while under the influence, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail or a &#xA3;5,000 fine.